In this unit we look at the language used to describe charts and graphs.

Graphs or charts help people understand data

quickly. You can use them to make a comparison or show a trend.
At the end of this unit you should know some useful vocabulary for describing charts and graphs.
1. Types of chart.

Pie chart: A pie chart is used to show percentages

Bar chart: A bar chart is used to compare different sets of information

Line graph: A lline graph is most useful for showing trends.

2. What is a trend? A trend is a general tendency or direction. an upward/downward trend

3. Vocabulary for describing graphs. Helpful words and phrases for describing graphs
UP Verbs rise, increase, grow, go up, improve, jump, surge, shoot up , soar, rocket

UP Nouns a rise, an increase, growth, an upward/rising/increasing trend, an improvement, a jump, a

surge

DOWN Verbs fall, decrease, drop, decline, go down, slump, plummet

DOWN Nouns a fall, a decrease, a decline, a downward/falling/decreasing trend, a slump

NO CHANGE Verbs remain stable/constant, stay at the same level, stabilize

FREQUENT CHANGE Verb fluctuate

FREQUENT CHANGE Noun fluctuation

AT THE TOP Verbs reach a peak, peak., reach its/their highest point

AT THE BOTTOM Verbs reach/hit a low (point), hit/reach its/their lowest point

CHANGE
Adjectives: dramatic, considerable, sharp, significant, moderate, slight, sudden, rapid, steady, gradual, slow
Adverbs: dramatically, considerably, sharply, significantly, moderately, slightly, suddenly, rapidly, steadily,
gradually, slowly
Prepositions:
a rise from 725 to 825

to increase by 2.1 %

an increase of 2.1 % in the crime rate

4. The following site helps you understand and revise some important vocabulary.
http://adw.hct.ac.ae/site_ilc/sites_ielts/graphsite/index.htm

Adjective + fall
Dramatic fall: a quick and large drop. (= rapid fall)
Gradual fall: a slow decrease over a long period.
Marked fall: a significant decrease; a larger and more important drop when compared to a previous fall.
Moderate fall: a small or slight drop; not a bad fall (= slight fall)
Significant fall: a large and an important drop. A fall that shows that there is reason for concern (see
marked fall)
Sharp fall: a quick and sudden drop (see sudden fall)
Sudden fall: a quick and an unexpected drop, especially after long period of increase
Adjective + increase
Gradual increase: a small, constant increase over a long period (see steady increase)
Marked increase: a stronger and more important increase, especially when compared to the previous
increases (= significant increase)
Moderate increase: a small increase or rise (= slight increase)
Sharp increase: a quick and steep/sharp increase or rise (=steep increase)
Steady increase: a consistent increase over a long period
Describing positions

Highest level: the top position; the highest point. The share price was at its highest level in 1995. It
often goes with FOR or IN. The shared price reached its highest levels FOR (IN) 3 years. (See peaked
and reached a peek)
Lowest level: the bottom position; the lowest point. Often goes with FOR or IN. (See Bottom out)
Bottom out (phrasal V): to remain at the lowest level for a period of time. Between 1995 and 1997 the
share price bottomed out. It can also be written as a noun: There was a BOTTOMING OUT of the share
price between 1995 and 1997.
Peak (V): reach the highest position. In 1995 the share price peaked. (See Highest level, Reached a
peak
Reach a peak (V+N): achieve the highest position. In 1995 the share price reached a peak.

Nouns of movement

Decline: a down movement, a decrease or fall. After 1993 there was a decline in the share price. It can
also be a V: After 1993 the share price declined. (= Decrease, Drop, Fall, Reduction, all of them can be

used as a V)
Fluctuation: a repeated up and down movement over a period of time. There was a fluctuation in the

share price between 1991 and 1997.

Improvement: a recovery; the state of getting better. After 1993 there was an improvement in the share

price. (= recovery, but recovery is stronger and more permanent than an improvement).
Increase: a higher movement. After 1993 there was an increase in the shared price. IN
Plateau: the state of staying at the same level over a period of time, especially after a period of increase.

There was a plateau in the share price between 1995 and 1997. (See Level off and Plateau (v) )
Reduction: a down movement, a decrease or fall. After 1993 there was a reduction in the shared price.
Often used with IN: There was a reduction in the shared price because of the poor profit forecast. Fall,
decrease, drop also + IN.

Recover + Adverb

Recover slightly: to improve a small quantity. After 1995 the share price recovered slightly.
Recover strongly: to improve by a large amount after having fallen previously.

Trends: adj + trend

Downward trend: the overall up and down movement of something over a long period of time in a down

direction. During the 1990s there was a downward trend in the share price.
Upward trend: the overall up and down movement of something over a long period of time in an up
direction.

Verbs of movement

Bottom out: to remain at the lowest level for a period of time: Between 1995 and 1997 the share price

bottomed out.
Double to: to increase by 2 times over a period. In 1993 the share price had stood at 3, but by 1997 it

doubled to 6.
Fluctuate: to move up and down repeatedly over a period of time. Between 1991 and 1997 the share

price fluctuated.
Level off: to stay at the same over a time, especially after a period of increase. Between 1995 and 1997

the share price leveled off. See Palletized (v) and Plateau (v).
Plateau: to stay at the same over a time, especially after increasing significantly. Between 1995 and 1997
the share price plateaued.

Plummet: to fall a long way in a short time. Between 1997 and 1998 the share price plummeted.
Plummet (and plunge) is only used when there is an extreme fall. See also Dramatic fall, Plunge,

Rapid fall.
Plunge: to fall a long way in a short time. Between 1997 and 1998 the share price plunged.
Soar: to increase to a high level in a very short time. Between 1997 and 1998 the share price soared. It is
probably a more extreme term than rapid increase or steep increase.

5. Fill in all the gaps:

The total property crime rate and B&E rate between 2000 and 2007
1. Introduction
This report examines the changes in the total property crime rate and the break and enter rate between 2000 and 2007.
2. Findings.
In 2000 the total property crime rate was 2500 offences per 100 000 population. Then the rate 1) rose
sharply

(sharply/sharp) and reached 3800 in 2001. After a 2)

(moderate/moderately) fall in 2002, the rate started

moderate

to 3)

(increase/decrease) again and reached a 4)

increase

5)

(peak/top) in 2003. However, after

peak

(stabilizing/fluctuating) for some months, the total property crime rate dropped 6)
stabilizing

considerably

(considerably/considerable) throughout 2004 and the beginning of 2005.

The rate stayed at about 2400 offences from mid-2005 7)

(to/until) mid-2006 before 8)

to

decreasing

(decreasing/decrease) again.
In 2000 the break and enter rate was about 760 offences per 100 000 population. 9) From(From/since) 2000 to 2003,
there was a steady 10)

(upward/downward)trend in the B rate. The rate 11)

upward

reached

(reached/arrived) its highest point in 2003 and then 12)

(showed/fell) a significant downward trend until

showed

mid-2005. After being stable for a few months, the rate continued to fall 13)

(slightly/slight), dropping to
slightly

around 780 in 2007.

3 .Conclusion
The total property crime rate fluctuated from 2000 to 2003, whereas the break and enter rate showed a general upward
trend. Both rates peaked in 2003, fell significantly until mid-2005, stabilized for some months and 14)
fell

(fell/grew) slightly during 2006 and 2007.